Overview

A College Experience, But Different

Just 200 miles from the Arctic Circle, the University of Alaska Fairbanks immerses students in the splendor of the Far North, in and out of the classroom. Even though UAF is Alaska's leading research and teaching university, it's still the size of a small college compared to huge state universities outside Alaska. UAF has 9,576 undergraduates and only 10,799 students overall. The Fairbanks campus itself is home to just about 6,000 students and has an 11:1 faculty to student ratio. The small size gives students opportunities for one-on-one interaction with professors.

UAF offers degrees in the usual fields, but the northern location allows for programs students won't find just anywhere. Polar ice, arctic wildlife, cold-climate engineering and issues surrounding sustainability and climate change are just some of the subjects students can study.

A Small University With a Unique History

The college began as the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mining in 1917 and was the first university in Alaska. Only 6 students were in the college's inaugural class and its first commencement consisted of a single graduate.

Land, Sea, and Space

The university is one of the few grant institutions involving land, sea, and space. The school got its start through a government land-grant program for colleges in the early 1900s. The federal government named the school an ocean research grant institution in 1980 and a space research grant center in 1991.

Students Find an Edge

The Alaska wilderness is both a learning site and recreational playground for UAF students. The university's main campus is on 2,200 acres in Fairbanks. The college also has community campuses in remote parts of Alaska, including Bethel and Nome, amid more than 360 million acres of wilderness.

Its outdoor adventures recreational program offers guide-led access to Alaska's rivers, glaciers, hiking trails, and wildlife. The program also rents outdoor equipment cheaper than can be found commercially.

Solid Ground

The university has 8 schools and colleges that together offer 201 degrees and certificates. Among them are the School of Education, the School of Management, the College of Engineering and Mines, and the College of Rural and Community Development.

Entering students complete a core curriculum of liberal arts studies before entering a major program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Core classes include academic writing, science, and mathematics.

More than 58% of undergraduates at UAF are from Alaska. The school also attracts students from throughout the United States and nearly 50 countries.

Some programs are offered only as minors but give students the opportunity to expand interests. Examples are global studies, leadership and civic engagement, arctic skills, and aviation technology.

In addition, an interdisciplinary studies program is available to students who wish to pursue courses of study outside of established majors.

Students Venture Out

The university also is devoted to the unique features of the polar north, its inhabitants, and history. Degrees in Alaska Native languages, rural development, and resource management are offered at UAF.

For instance, undergraduates can pursue degrees in Yup'ik, an Eskimo language. Other BA programs such as Russian studies are related to Alaska's geographical and ethnic heritage. Academic fields at UAF, including fisheries and mining engineering, are enriched by the proximity of the state's abundant resources.

Students Work for Real

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is the state's leading research institution with more than $117 million in annual expenditures. Its emphasis is on the circumpolar North and the region's challenges and opportunities, such as climate change and resource management.

UAF is home to more than a dozen research centers. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to join research projects that may take them to Alaskan rivers, glaciers, mountains, and forests.

Students Learn and Live -- Stay Grounded or Take Flight

The university's Geophysical Institute includes the Poker Flat Research Range, the only university-owned rocket range in the world. The Poker Flat Research Range launches sounding rockets for atmospheric research under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Other important research centers include UAF's Institute of Arctic Biology, the site of studies on arctic climate change and wildlife, and the Institute of Northern Engineering, which explores engineering vital to cold regions.

Adventure is Inevitable

Fairbanks is located about 350 miles north of Anchorage in the interior region of Alaska. With a population of more than 32,000, Fairbanks is Alaska's largest interior city, nestled in the central Tanana Valley.

Fairbanks is a gateway to the spectacular natural resources of Alaska. These natural features draw tourists and adventurers from around the world. The glow of the aurora borealis, called the Northern Lights, can be seen in Fairbanks nearly 200 days each year.

In addition, the city is within easy access of the Yukon River and Denali National Park.